Gun.



N0. 664,848. 1 iatented Jan. I, IQOI.

G. T. G LOVER.

GUN.

{Application filed June 25, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Ill/Ill 'rarss E tries...

GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,848, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed June 25, 1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. GLOVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Guns, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to that class of guns or cannon which are commonly known as built-up guns and which are composed of a plurality of concentric tubes. These tubes have generally been shrunk together-that vis to say, one upon the otherin such mannet as to render them practically'one. This process of shrinking is, however, slow and eX- pensive and is open to the further objection that a uniform shrinkage of the tubes is impossible. Cconsequently there is always a liability, for instance, of the outer jacket being shrunk to an extent to com press the others, and in such case it is obvious that the jacket thus unduly shrunk will be compelled to sns tain more than its proper proportion of the bursting strain.

The principal object of my invention is therefore to avoid this costly and. unsatisfactory process of shrinking and to provide an improved method which will be at once simple, economical, and highly efiective.

. Certain special objects are to permit a relative longitudinal shift or adjustment on the part of the concentric tubes or jackets and to thereby provide a gun in which the force of the explosions may be utilized to effect a uniform tightening of the jackets and a consequent equalization of the strain, to provide a construction involving aplurality of tapered tubes assembled so as to be capable of relative shift and separated by interposed layers of non-conducting material, to lock the tubes or jackets against relative twist or rotation, to facilitate the opening of the breech of the gun, and to provide certain details tending to increase the general efficiency.

Abuilt-up gun constructed in accordance with my invention consists of an inner tube tapered externally toward the muzzle and one or more tapered jackets arranged-thereon. IE but one jacket is provided, it is tapered internallyto fit the tube; but if several jackets are employed all except the outermost will be tapered internally and externally, so asto serial N0. 2%! 8% (Flu model.)

fit one upon the other. Each successive jacket is desirably made somewhat shorter than the one over which it is drawn or placed, and the said tubes and jackets are preferably assembled so as to be capable of a relative and longitudinal shift or adjustment. The breechw block is secured .within the rear end of the outer jacket, which latter extendssomewhat' beyond or to the rear of the tube and alsofmi;

the other jackets, if more than one are em ployed, whereby the recoil and forward pull of the projectile will tend'to give the jacket or jackets a slight end movement towardthe rear and the tube a similar movement forward. In this way the force of the explosion is utilized to tighten the jackets upon the.

tube and also upon each other. the gun is fired the more firmly the jackets embrace the tube and each other, and as the said tube and jacket or jackets are all tapered alike such tightening will necessarily be of a uniform and like nature-that is to say, the jackets will all be tightened alike The more and in such manner as to permit each to susta'in its proper share of the strain. If so desired, the tapered tubes thus assembledso as to be capable of relative shift can be separated by. interposed layers of asbestos or similar material, and by so doing the heat and vibration incident to firing will be confined or limited to the center of the gun,

While for the broader purposes of my invention any style or construction of breechblock could be employed, I prefer, as a matter of further and special improvement, to use a breech-block consisting of a slightlytapered or wedge-shaped block arranged to extend transversely through the rearwardly-extended portion of the outer jacket, and as a matter of still further improvement the said jackets against relative twist or rotation. The breech-block could be operated by any well-known mechanical device; but with a ings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation a. built-up gun constructed inaccordance-with draw-- breech-block is adapted to lock the tube and lOO ; and jacket B and that the-said breechmy invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sect on through the same, showinga cartridge in position to be fired. Fig. 3 is a horizontal central longitudinal section through-the gun, the muzzle or forward por- Lion of the same being broken away. Fig. 4

' is a transverse section on line a; in Fig. 1.

the tube A, and thereby prolong or extend the gun as composed .of a tube and jackets with interposed layers of asbestos, I do not; 4

from, breech to muzzle.

Fig. 51s a transverse section on line m in Fig. 1. j

The foregoing figures illustrate a built-up gun comprising an inner tube A, a couple of I that the meeting surfaces of the said tube and jackets are all parallel, the taper being.

the same in each case. The jacket B is preferably somewhat shorter than the tube A and the jacket 0 shorter than the jacket-l3,"

the exposed portion b of jacket B being thinned down and the exterior of jacket 0 having a more pronounced taper than its interior, the gun thus finished having, as shown,

a neat'appearance and a pronounced-n: taper The interposed layers or asbestos E will tend to limit orconfine the heat and vibration incident to firing to the lifeof the jackets, the tube A when Worn or weakened by use being removed and replaced by a new one; While I have described.

limit myself to the use of sucliniaterial, as

,there are n umerous su bsta n'ces which are poor conductors of heat and vibration.

With reference now to the breech-block, it

willbe observed that the outer jacket D is extended beyond and to the rear of the tube block extends transversely thronghsuch rear "wardly-extended portion. The forward surface d of the block is preferably straight 'or at right angles withthe bore of the gun and the rear surface (1 slightly beveled or inclined, thereby giving the block a wedge-like shape or form. By this arrangement it will be seen that the entire rearward thrust or recoil will be sustained by a breech-block which is secured to the outer jacket only and that the effect of such arrangement will be a slight relative shift on the part of the tube and jackets similar to the exte'ndiug of a tele- I The force of explosion exerted upon the breecl1block will tend to draw one scope.

or more of the jackets rearward, while the friction or forward pull'of the projectile, on

- the bore of the tube will tend to draw the latter and perhaps one or more of the jackets forward. For instance, should jacket B before firing be tighter upon the tube A than ,A and jacket ends of the said tube A and jacket B pro- FigsQ3 and 4.)

short distance rearward on each side of the breech-block, (see: Fig. 3,) and by such ar rangement the latter is enabled to lock the jacket- C upon the said jacket 13 the recoil will tend to draw jacket 0 rearward, while the forward pull of the projectile will tend to shift tube A and jacket B forward until the jacket 0 embraces jacket B with the same degree of force that jacket B embraces the tube A, beyond which point there will be an equal amount of relative shift between C and B and between B and A. In this way, it

will be seen, the shock or force of the explosion instead of tending to loosen or disrupt the;different pafrts of the gun will tend to tighten the jackets and equalize thestrain thereon.

7 As a matter of further improvement the breech-block is adapted to serve as a key for the purpose of locking the tube and jackets against relative twist or rotation. By referring to 2, 3, and 4 itwill be seen that the breech block extends transversely through I the jacket 0 byway of a couple of openings 0 c and also that the said block engages notches formed in the rear ends of the tube B. The notching of the rear vides, in effect, a pair of cheeks a a, ontube A and a similar pair 19 b on jacket B.

The said cheeks extend a ube'a'nd jackets against relative twist or ror tion... 1 j

T e'firing pin or needle F is also a feature of improvement, being made in two parts f andff and provided with ahead f to pre- Vent the expanding. gases from escaping rearward through the needle-hole.

. 'VVhile, as previously stated, various me chanical contrivances or even the hand in tion, to raise orshift the block by means of a small chargeof powder or other explosive exploded at the inner end of the said block. To this end I have arranged upon the jacket 0' a short sleeve G, provided with an opening 9 coincident with the opening 0 and havinga shallow cavity 9' formed on its interior surface. The said cavity, with the lower sur-. face (1 of the breech-block, forms a chamber-wherein 'a small quantity of explosive may be exploded, with the result that the breech-block will be forced outward to an extent sufficient to permit loading. An arch II limits the outward movement of the breechblock, and a spring-bolt I, adapted to engage the recess d serves to hold the block in an elevated position it being necessary, of

- course, to remove the rear portion f of the pin F before so shifting the block.

Obviously any known hammer or firing be the equivalent of the present arrangement and that the sleeve G could be dispensed with by, making the outer jacket (I of the tube and jackets, and also that with.

my arrangement the construction can be such as to permit an advantageous use of interposed layers of asbestos. That I claim as my invention is 1. Abuilt-upgun comprisingan inner-tube, a plurality of concentric jackets arranged upon the said tube, and a breech-block secured to the outermost of said jackets, the relative formation of the tube and jackets being such that the forward pull of the. projectile upon the tube and-the rearward pressure of the expanding gases upon the breech block and outer jacket will operate to maintain the tube and'jackets in place.

2. A built-up gun comprising an inner tube tapered toward the muzzle, andone or more tapered jackets; a wedgeshaped breechbloek extending transversely through the rear end of the gun, and arranged to engage and lock the said tube and jacketor jackets against relative twist or rotation; a firingpin extended through the breech-block, and

,blck.'.' '60 j tapered externally toward the 'muz zle, a plumeans whereby the said block may beshift ed so as to open the breech of the gun.

3. A built-up gun comprising a pluraliiy'of tapered tubes arranged onenpon the other with interposed layers of asbestos or. like material, and a breech-block extending trans versely through the rear end of the outer tube, whereby the recoil and the forward pull of the projectile will tend to tighten the said tubes upon each other; the said breech-block also being arranged to engage and lock the tubes against relative twist or rotatiom 4. A built-up gun comprisinga plurality of concentric tubes keyed or locked against-relative twist by a-transverselyarranged breech-; block.

5. A built-up gun comprising a plurality'o'f tapered tubes keyed or locked against relative twist bya transversely-arranged breech- 6. built-up guncomprising an inner tube rality of internally and externally tapered jackets arranged upon the said tube, and a breech-block suitably secured'to one or more of the out-er jackets; the taper of the said tube and jackets being substantially the same whereby the relative shift caused by the force of the explosion will be of a character to per mit each jacket to sustain its proper shareof the bursting strain,

7. A built-up gun comprisinga tapered tube and a plurality of tapered jackets assembled so as to be capable of relative longitudinal shift, and having a breech-block secured to conducting material; the said tubes being assembled so as to be capable of a relative longitudinal shift, and the outer tube being provided with a breech-block, by which arrangement the force of the explosions will cause a relative longitudinal shift on the part of the said tubes.

9. A gun comprising a tapered tube and a plurality of tapered jackets with interposed layers of non-conducting material; the said tube and jackets being assembled in such manner as to admit of a relative longitudinal shift, and the taper of the jackets being substantially the same, whereby the'relativc shift or adjustment caused by the force of theex transverse opening in line with said notches, and a wedgeshaped breech-block extend- ;ing through said opening andengaging said notch, 55 the said breech-block being adapted tive twist or rotation, and also to form a backing for the explosion, whereby the recoil and its outer jacket in such manner that the force,

plosions will be of a natureto enable eachjacket having its rear end provided with a to lock the said tube and jackets against relatapered tubes with interposed-layers of nonthe forward pull of the projectile will tend to give the tube and jackets a relative longitudinal' shift; e

ner tube, a tapered outer jacket, one or more intermediate jackets having a similar or correspondingtaper, and a breech-block secured to the said outer jacket; the tube and jackets being assembled so as to permit a relative longitudinal shift, and the firing of the gun i operating to equalize the strain by reason of the recoil being applied to the outer jacket in a-rearward direction and the pull of the projectile to the inner tube in an opposite direction.

t GEORGE T. GLOVER. Witnesses:

ARTHUR F. DUn ND,

ARTHUR G. OLSEN.

" 11. A b'uilt'up gun comprising a tapered in-f 

